New Bedford’s AHA! Night to Celebrate 25th Birthday

It's time to party like it's 1999!

AHA! is celebrating its 25th birthday on September 12 in downtown New Bedford with live music, circus acts, a 90s costume parade, activities for children and a surprise guest or two.

Kim Goddard, Executive Director of AHA!, joined Townsquare Sunday to discuss the birthday bash and the future of her organization.

"When AHA! started 25 years ago, there were a number of people downtown who really wanted to focus on the 'specialness' of the city and attract people downtown, and I think AHA! has been very successful with that," Goddard said. "It's also served as a platform for local talent, restaurants and businesses, and its great to see that's still happening."

AHA! Nights are held in downtown New Bedford on the second Thursday of every month, but Thursday, Sept. 12 may be the biggest AHA! celebration to date.

The fun starts at 4 p.m. at the Whaling Museum Plaza. There will be music, arts and crafts, a scavenger hunt and a cake to celebrate AHA!'s 25th birthday.

Beginning at 5 p.m., there will be plenty of live music at the Fiber Optic Center's loading dock at Front and Centre Streets.

Also at 5 p.m., crowds will gather at lower Union Street to join in a 90s fashion parade, a Macarena flash mob, circus acts, and an appearance by the General Lee" an orange-painted Dodge Charger that starred in the Dukes of Hazzard TV show.

To learn more about about AHA!'s 25th birthday celebration, check out ahanewbedford.org.

When it comes to AHA!, Goddard said she has her eye on the future as well.

"We're really focused on how to become more sustainable. We really want to build up the program a bit more, so we can do more," she said, and at sometime in the future, Goddard is hoping to bring AHA! Night to other parts of the city as well.

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